The lending team of Shimmy Braun and Tom Fishwick at CrossCountry Mortgage maintains a relaxed and approachable style even in a high-pressure work environment. “Working with us is like putting on a warm and comfortable glove,” says Braun. Fishwick adds, “We work the golden rule and treat others how we would want to be treated.” With a combined 45 years in the lending business, serving clients from first-time homebuyers to seasoned investors and everything in between, Braun and Fishwick work flawlessly together. “We complement each other seamlessly in temperament and experience,” says Braun. “Customers can talk to either of us, and they will get a consistent response.”

The duo is proud of  their success and reputation. Over the past 20 years, the pair has closed more than $3 billion in mortgages and helped thousands of homebuyers. “Our clients frequently thank us for being so accessible,” Braun says. “They thank us for explaining things that other lenders don’t.” Fishwick says repeat business and referrals are a testament to their success. “We are now helping a second generation of clients, as our client’s children are now entering the housing market,” he remarks.

Putting their clients at ease is paramount. “We hold a 30-minute Zoom or phone conversation in which I give a ‘mortgage 101’ presentation to make sure clients are equipped with all the knowledge they need before starting to look,” says Braun. The preapproval consultation is critical, Fishwick adds, for clients to truly understand the process. “It’s not just a box to check off to satisfy the seller or agent,” he explains.

Braun and Fishwick are members of the LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce and the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce. They also work with numerous organizations and charities in Chicago, including Equality IL, Brave Space Alliance, the Center on Halsted and Gratitude Generation. Braun is incredibly proud of receiving Crain’s Notable LGBTQ Executive award.

Braun says, “Our customers feel like they were taken care of by family, cared for by people who have their best interests at heart.”